Nineteen Eighteen (1918) Club (Mss. Gr. 178)

Historical note

The 1918 Club, national and international in scope, was started by John Marko and Aura Jane Vannoy to promote friendship throughout the world. The only requirement to join was having a birthday in the year 1918. This unique club sponsored social and charitable events for years, hosting national conferences for all members, running programs for shut-ins, and printing a monthly newsletter for members. Some of the most popular programs were the “birthday twins”, and "round robin" chain letters - the latter being informative "update letters" sent between small groups (3-5 people) over a number of years. The 1918 Club was active for forty-four years registering over 6000 members internationally until 2004. Administrative duties, within the organization, shifted from chapter to chapter during the life of the organization.

The Rhode Island Chapter (# 21) of the 1918 Club was officially formed in 1979 with four members. Membership had grown to make Rhode Island one of the most active state memberships in the country, among whose ranks was Walter "Salty" Brine (1918-2004), radio broadcaster and local celebrity. In 1988 the Rhode Island Chapter took on a leadership role in the organization when Charles Carr was elected president of the national club and Dorothy "Dot" Smith was selected to be the editor of the national newsletter. The Rhode Island chapter continued to collect dues and print the monthly and bi-monthly newsletter until April of 2004. The Club records, then in Dorothy's custody, were donated to the University of Rhode Island Special Collections for historical preservation.